If your pet isn't used to you touching or peering inside his mouth, start today to acquaint him with this important habit. Take it slowly and praise and reward him for his cooperation.

Once your dog or cat is comfortable with you touching his mouth, lift his lips and examine his gums and teeth. His teeth should be clean, without brownish stains.

Don't expect to see pearly whites in an adult dog or cat. Yellow staining is normal for pets that are no longer puppies and kittens. Even professional cleaning doesn't remove staining, unless a bleaching agent is applied.

Once you've inspected your pet's mouth a few times, you'll become familiar with his teeth and gums. Be sure to notice the smell of his breath and note any changes.

If you observe any of the following signs, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian, preferably one who practices holistic medicine, as soon as possible:

Bad breath (especially if you notice a change)

Inflamed gums

Excessive drooling

Unusual lumps on the gums or under the tongue

Loose or bleeding teeth

Enlist the Pros to Help

Your holistic vet is a great resource when it comes to your pet's oral cleanliness.

Step four is a critical one that I don't want you to skip...

Regardless of whether you are cleaning your pet's teeth at home, be sure to schedule regular oral exams with your veterinarian. He or she will alert you to any existing or potential problems in your pet's mouth.

In some cases, a professional cleaning may be necessary. If your vet strongly recommends having it done, and it's safe for your pet, do it.

With a clean mouth - a clean slate, so to speak - you can vow to keep up with cleaning at home moving forward.

Annual dental exams, starting at one year of age for cats and small-breed dogs, and two years of age for large-breed dogs, are recommended for all pets.

What about "anesthesia-free" dental cleanings? I don't recommend them. These "cleanings" carry risks of injury to your pet and can't clean as deeply as traditional vet cleanings.

This new advance in dental care that I'm about to share with you in a couple of minutes, while not a replacement for professional oral exams, can potentially help keep your pet's teeth cleaner between professional cleanings.

Brushing - Still the Gold Standard for Your Pet's Oral Cleanliness

Getting into the habit of brushing is easier than you think.

I believe step five is the most important step.... and that's to brush your pet's teeth.

I know I told you earlier that you didn't have to brush for this product to work.

Bear with me... That is still an option if your pet refuses to let you come near him with a toothbrush, or if brushing isn't appropriate for your pet.

And you'll be pleased to know that this new option by itself is nearly as effective as brushing...

However, I'm going to encourage you to give brushing a try, because as you'll soon see, you'll likely experience better and faster results if you add brushing. I know you want your pet to enjoy clean gums and teeth as quickly as possible.

Ideally you want to brush your pet's teeth every night, or at least several times a week.

The best time to establish a solid brushing routine is when your cat or dog is young, before the age of one. Get your pet comfortable with having their jaw, teeth, and gums touched from their earliest months.

Nearly any dog or cat, at any age, can learn to accept having their teeth brushed. Be sure to ease into it slowly, offer plenty of praise and reassurance, and be generous with healthy treats!

How to Brush Your Pet's Teeth... Even if You've
Never Done it Before

Brushing your pet's teeth doesn't need to be an insurmountable task. The key is to break the process down into steps and gradually work up to actual brushing.

Following these simple steps can make brushing easier and less stressful for you both:

Spend at least a week getting your pet "ready" for brushing. Massage his lips with your finger in a circular motion once or twice a day.

For the next week or so, move to his teeth and gums, massaging with your finger in a similar manner. Still no toothpaste or toothbrush yet...

Next, dab a very small amount of pet-formulated toothpaste on his lips. Spend at least a few days getting him accustomed to the taste.

Now introduce a piece of gauze and rub it against the teeth. After your pet accepts that, you can move on to a "finger brush," and finally a special pet toothbrush with soft bristles, but don't rush. Make small, circular motions on his teeth.

Add a small amount of toothpaste to the gauze or brush. Focus on the back teeth and the outsides of your pet's teeth, as that's where they are dirtiest.

Try working on a few teeth at a time. Gently massage your pet's gums with the gauze or brush. And don't forget the praise and rewards...

The Most Challenging to Care For... And with a Greater Need?

Mini poodles and other small breeds are more prone to dirty teeth.

Now that we've covered the essentials of good oral care, I realize the last step - brushing - can be the most challenging if you have a cat, a small breed dog, or simply a dog who refuses to let you near his mouth with your fingers, much less a toothbrush.

And ironically, it's often smaller animals with smaller mouths - some of those most challenging subjects - that may need cleaning the most.

How to Get Maximum Benefits from Healthy Pets Dental Gel

The 8 main ingredients in my peppermint flavored Healthy Pets Dental Gel are designed to work together to help keep teeth clean.

And now I'm even more excited about our advanced formula with extra cleansing ingredients!

So how can you get maximum benefits from it for your pet?

Don't wait to see dirty teeth. Begin using my Dental Gel with Herbal Extracts on your pet as early as possible.

It's far easier and faster to help keep teeth clean in the first place than to clean them once they are dirty.

It's so easy to use. Just squeeze the recommended amount onto your fingertip. For a medium size dog, that's only a fourth of a teaspoon. For a cat, just an eighth of a teaspoon.

If your pet will allow you to open his mouth, simply smear the gel over his teeth and gums. If not, place the gel on his lips, paw, or muzzle, and he'll lick it off. The more he licks, the more it will mix with his saliva and coat his teeth and gums.

When smearing the gel on your pet's teeth, focus on the back molars first. Especially with cats, this is where most of the dirt accumulates. Move to the pre-molars, canines, and then the incisors.

It's Never Too Late to Get Started - Order Your Healthy Pets Dental Gel for Pets Today

As the saying goes... Today is the first day of the rest of your pet's life. And it's never too late to provide her with the dental care she deserves.

After all, if you won't do it for her, who will?

Even if your pet is advanced in age and has a less-than-clean mouth, know that some oral care is better than no oral care. And my Dental Gel makes it so easy to do.

Order your Healthy Pets Dental Gel with Herbal Extracts today and know you may be making a great decision for your pet.

A: To help clean very dirty teeth, apply 1 or 2 times daily after meals for the first 4 weeks. After that, apply 2 to 3 times per week (can be used daily), preferably before bedtime.

For fastest results, apply gel directly to teeth and gum line. Withhold food and water for at least 30 minutes after applying so the gel can mix with saliva and coat teeth and gums. Use the following amounts:

Cats (2+ lbs.) 1/16 tsp.

Toy Breed Dogs (up to 14 lbs.) 1/8 tsp.

Small Breed Dogs (15-29 lbs.) 1/4 tsp.

Medium Dogs (30-49 lbs.) 1/2 tsp.

Large Dogs (50-79 lbs.) 3/4 tsp.

Giant Breed Dogs (over 80 lbs.) 1 tsp.

These are general guidelines. You may want to adjust frequency of application to suit your pet's unique needs and factors such as age, breed, and cleanliness of teeth.

Q: "My pet won't allow me to apply the gel to the inside of her mouth. Does it need to be applied directly to the teeth and gums to be effective?"

A: The good news is – no! You can simply wipe the gel on the outside of your pet's lips, her upper muzzle near her whiskers, or even a cat's paw or front forearm and she will naturally want to lick it off. The more she licks, the better the gel will coat all of her teeth and gums.

For dogs, try offering a bit of peanut butter with the tooth gel squeezed on top.

Follow the directions above to get your pet comfortable with you touching her mouth. Now try applying the gel to your fingertip and work it through her mouth, coating the teeth and gums. Next, move to using a piece of gauze wrapped around your finger, and finally a pet finger brush to provide more mechanical abrasion.

Q: "Do I need to use a toothbrush with Healthy Pets Dental Gel to receive benefits?"

A: You will still receive benefits without using a toothbrush. With some geriatric pets with poor dental health, you may not be able to use a toothbrush due to the condition of their teeth and gums.

However, brushing can help speed up the cleaning of your dog's or cat's mouth. Use a finger brush, a soft toothbrush for pets, or a simple piece of gauze and rub along your pet's teeth and gums.

A: You're not alone when you ask this question! Many pet parents are in the same shoes... The important point here is awareness of the issue and positive action to start cleaning now. Granted, my Dental Gel may not give your pet perfectly clean teeth, but you will be helping to keep them cleaner than they would be without use of the Dental Gel.

Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of Dr. Mercola, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Mercola and his community. Dr. Mercola encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your health care professional before using products based on this content.

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